The Jewel of the Blues

(Hardback, Large Print Edition)

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Description

Set in the sparkling 1920s jazz era, The Jewel of the Blues pulls back the curtain on all the romance, danger and drama in the bustling backstage life of a young performer.

Billed as the Little Girl with the Big Voice, blues singer Lucille Arnetta Love always dreamed of life under the lights. From traveling family gospel band to lead singer in a riotous vaudeville troupe, Lucille is on the rise. But a devastating family secret, one thats poised to shatter every dream shes ever had, casts an inescapable shadow over Lucilles career.

Decades ago, a botched robbery ended in a suspicious deathand all signs point to Lucilles own father as the culprit. Its a secret that Lucilles family is determined to keep buriedeven from Lucille herself. For a time, a fresh start feels possible, especially when Marcus Williams, Lucilles managerand sometimes paramoursets her up with a band to tour the country: Miss Lucilles Black Troubadours. Lucilles dream of seeing her name in the bright lights of Broadway may happen yet, if she and the Troubadours can endure the highly competitive, rocky road to fame.

Reviews

[An] immersive Jazz Age tale. Both the glamour and the dark side of a musicians life are well-covered, as is the pervasive racism of 1920s America...Fans of Diane Richards and Phyllis R. Dixon will be hooked." Booklist

Author Bio

Monica Chenault-Kilgore was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and currently lives in Edison, New Jersey. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University School of Journalism. Her published works include Liberty and Justice for AllProfiles of Middlesex County African American Veterans of WWII and the Korean War which is available in the public library. She formerly worked as a Contributing Reporter for The Home News Tribune and The Courier News newspapers.